Hadassah Responds to Presbyterian Church Divestment Decision

Hadassah joins the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Israel Action Network in expressing outrage, disappointment and sadness over the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) decision to divest from three American companies because of their sales to the government of Israel. See below for excerpts from the joint JCPA/IAN statement or read the full press release on the Israel Action Network website.

Hadassah is a staunch advocate against the BDS movement, which aims to tarnish and delegitimize the State of Israel. Hadassah opposes destructive actions in favor of constructive dialogue in order to pursue a future of peace in the Middle East.

The biennial General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted today to divest from three American companies because of their sales to Israel, by a very narrow margin of 310-303. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), together with the Israel Action Network (IAN), an initiative of The Jewish Federations of North America in partnership with the JCPA, created to counter assaults on Israel’s legitimacy, issued the following statement:

“The decision by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to divest from three U.S.-based companies because of their sales to Israel is outrageous. We are deeply disappointed, hurt, and saddened. But we are not surprised, given the deep animus that a determined core group of church officials has demonstrated against both the Jewish people and the State of Israel,” said JCPA President Rabbi Steve Gutow. “This decision will undoubtedly have a devastating impact on relations between mainstream Jewish groups and the national Presbyterian Church (USA). We hold the leadership of the PCUSA accountable for squandering countless opportunities, not only to act responsibly to advance prospects for Middle East peace, but also to isolate and repudiate the radical, prejudiced voices in their denomination.”

IAN Managing Director Geri Palast remarked, “It is troubling and tragic to see the Presbyterian Church (USA) choose to reject partnership in favor of partisanship, ignoring the entreaties of every major organizational voice in the American Jewish community, including over 1,700 religious leaders from the four movements and all fifty states. The publication of ‘Zionism Unsettled,’ and anti-Jewish and anti-Israel congregational guide, connected the dots between this church action and efforts to eliminate the Jewish state of Israel. The only path to a just peace is a two-state solution. Divestment and BDS are the tools of division and a one-state movement.”

The JCPA and IAN have worked closely with Jewish Federations, Jewish Community Relations Councils, rabbis, and national Jewish agencies and their affiliates around the country to foster dialogue and programs that support peace and reconciliation and reject delegitimization and divestment.